Preschool Program Book List

Camouflage

Find the Wolf (2018)

By: Agnese Baruzzi

Silver Dolphin Books

Toddler – K

“Can you find the big, bad wolf? Peek through the holes and turn the pages to search for the wolf in the woods. Clever, colorful cutouts in this board book will captivate and delight, but the biggest surprise is hiding in the pages! Will you find the wolf in the end?”

Howling – Wolf Communication

Little Wolf’s Song 2010)

By: Britta Teckentrup

Boxer Books

Toddler – K

“Is a wolf who can’t howl a wolf at all? A magical story about finding your own voice.
Even though Little Wolf’s mom, dad, sister, and brothers all have their own special song, he can only manage a poor, pitiful squeak. His siblings tease him: “A wolf who can’t howl is no wolf at all!” But one snowy day, Little Wolf finds himself lost and alone in the woods—and underneath a glistening, perfect full moon, he discovers his own special, beautiful voice.”

Hungry Like a Wolf

Walk with a Wolf ( 2002)

By: Janni Howker

Candlewick
PreK – 3

“Walk with a wolf . . . as she hunts alone, howls to her pack, and greets her cubs and mate. Hunt with the pack as it follows the scent of a bull moose, crouching and charging. Learn all about these lords of the far north, who have been hunted by man nearly to extinction. With evocative watercolors by Sarah Fox-Davies, Walk with a Wolf is as full of beauty and drama as it is of facts about this mysterious and often maligned creature.”

Wolf Camp ( 2018)

By: Andrea Zuill

Random House Studio; Reprint edition

Toddler – 3

“Homer is a dog . . . but he also secretly fancies himself part wolf. So, when an invitation to attend WOLF CAMP (“Where every dog can live as a wolf for a week”) falls out of his kibble bag one morning, he’s determined to go. After his people finally agree, Homer boards the bus bound for Wolf Camp, along with fellow campers Trixie and Rex. They’re greeted on the other end by wolf counselors Fang and Grrr (“they seem nice”), and what follows is an array of wolf activities, including learning to howl, mark, and hunt. Of course, Homer’s a little homesick at times, and the food isn’t very good, but that just makes heading home all the sweeter.”

What Is That Smell?

The Girl and the Wolf(2019)

By: Katherena Vermette

Theytus Books
Toddler – K

“While picking berries with her mother, a little girl wanders too far into the woods. When she realizes she is lost, she begins to panic. A large grey wolf makes a sudden appearance between some distant trees. Using his sense of smell, he determines where she came from and decides to help her. Through a series of questions from the wolf, the little girl realizes she had the knowledge and skill to navigate herself—she just needed to remember that those abilities were there all along.”

Wolf Pups!

Wolf Babies! (2013)

By: Lisa and Mike HusarFarcountry Press (1803)

Toddler – 1

“The adorable, fuzzy wolf pups will not fail to capture your heart in Wolf Babies! with their bright eyes, pointy ears, and fluffy tails. In this newest addition to Farcountry Press’ popular Babies! board book series, see these elusive animals at play in the wild running, wrestling, and cuddling with mom. Short, charming rhymes accompany 13 engaging colorful photographs by award-winning husband-and-wife photography team Lisa and Mike Husar. Wolf Babies! is the perfect tool for parents to teach their young children about these fascinating creatures.”

Wolf Tracks

Footprints in the Snow (2007)

By: Mei Matsouka

Scholastic
Toddler – 2

“The wolf discovers tracks in the snow. He decides to follow them and meets several animals that they might belong to. The wolf tries to be friendly but each animal is suspicious of his intentions. Finally, the wolf finds a duck that said the tracks are his. This is where the story has a twist because the duck starts to look VERY tasty to the wolf. Will be able to resist his natural instincts?”

Wolves as Families

Moon(2018)

By: Alison Olivdr

Clarion Books

Toddler – 3

“Like many children, Moon leads a busy life. School, homework, music lessons, sports, and the next day it begins again. She wonders if things could be different. Then, one night, she meets a wolf. The wolf takes Moon deep into the dark, fantastical forest and there she learns to howl, how to hide, how to be still, and how to be wild. And in that, she learns what it’s like to be free.”

Together, We Are Family(2016)

By: Kelly M. Condon

Blue Moon Green Lake Children’s Media

Toddler – 3

“We howl together. We romp together. We rest and dream together…” Celebrating the family, and all the joy of life found in being part of one, … exploring a wolf family’s day together, the book also includes brief educational texts to introduce to your child how wolf families live in loving support of all their members as well.”

Elementary school reading list

Elementary Program Follow-up Reading and Activities

Wolves and Mythology

“Little Red Riding Hood” (January 1, 1983)

By: Trina Schart HymanHoliday House; Reprint edition

Grades K – 3

“Surrounded by an abundance of wildflowers, mushrooms, pinecones, and birds, Elisabeth heads off in her red cloak to visit her ailing grandmother. She’s all alone—until she is joined by a wicked wolf, who urges her to stray from her wooded path. Framed with hand-drawn patterns and textured vignettes, Trina Schart Hyman’s illustrations add intrigue to the familiar story, filled with subtle detail and depth. With the help of a brave woodsman, Elisabeth and her grandmother are saved, and Little Red Riding Hood learns a valuable lesson.”

“Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China” (April 16, 1996)

By: Ed Young

Puffin Books; Reprint edition

Grades PreK – 3

“The now-classic Chinese retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and one of the most celebrated picture books of our time.”

“Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig” (April 1, 1997)

By: Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury

Margaret K. McElderry Books; Reprint edition

Grades 2 – 5

‘When it comes time for the three little wolves to go out into the world and build themselves a house, their mother warns them to beware the big bad pig. But the little wolves’ increasingly sturdy dwellings are no match for the persistent porker, who has more up his sleeve than huffing and puffing. It takes a chance encounter with a flamingo pushing a wheelbarrow full of flowers to provide a surprising and satisfying solution to the little wolves’ housing crisis.”

“Someone is walking through the north woods in winter. Readers can see the tracks in each detailed depiction of winter habitat, but they don’t discover the mystery animal until the last pages.

On the way, they see frozen wood frogs, a bear in her den with her newborn cubs, sleepy chipmunks, fish and otters swimming under the ice, owl hunting and hare hiding, and many other creatures surviving and even thriving in the cold, snowy winter environment.”

Differences/Similarities Between Wolves and Dogs

“Wolf Camp”(July 31, 2018)

By: Andrea Zuill

Random House Studio; Reprint edition

Grades PreK – 3

“Homer is a dog . . . but he also secretly fancies himself part wolf. So when an invitation to attend WOLF CAMP (“Where every dog can live as a wolf for a week”) falls out of his kibble bag one morning, he’s determined to go. After his people finally agree, Homer boards the bus bound for Wolf Camp, along with fellow campers Trixie and Rex. They’re greeted on the other end by wolf counselors Fang and Grrr (“they seem nice”), and what follows is an array of wolf activities, including learning to howl, mark, and hunt. Of course, Homer’s a little homesick at times, and the food isn’t very good, but that just makes heading home all the sweeter.”

Domestication of Dogs

“From Wolf to Woof” (April 12, 2016)

By: Hudson Talbott

Nancy Paulsen Books

Grades K – 3

“How did dog become man’s best friend? Dogs come in such a variety of shapes, sizes, and breeds, that it is hard to believe that they all have a common ancestor–the wolf! Hudson Talbott takes readers on a fascinating journey through history to see how wolves’ relationships with humans sparked their development into the dogs we know and love today.”

Wolf Pack/Wolves as Families

“We are Wolves” (December 1, 1999)

By: Molly Grooms and Lucia Guarnotta

Northword Pr

Grades PreK – 3

“Two wolf cubs run with their uncle and make exciting discoveries about what it means to be a wolf.”

“Together, We Are Family”(September 23, 2016)

By: Kelly M. Condon

Blue Moon Green Lake Children’s Media

Grades Toddler – 3

“We howl together. We romp together. We rest and dream together…” Celebrating the family, and all the joy of life found in being part of one, … exploring a wolf family’s day together, the book also includes brief educational texts to introduce to your child how wolf families live in loving support of all their members as well.”

Wild Wolves

“Journey: Based on the True Story of OR7”(October 11, 2016)

By: Emma Bland Smith

Little Bigfoot

Grades 1 – 3

“This beautiful picture book follows the journey of a young gray wolf who garnered nationwide attention when he became the first wild wolf in California in almost a century. Using facts recorded by Fish & Wildlife scientists, author Emma Bland Smith imagines the wolf’s experiences in close detail as he makes an epic 2,000-mile trek over three years’ time. The wolf’s story is interwoven with the perspective of a young girl who follows his trek through the media. As she learns more about wolves and their relationships with humans, she becomes determined to find a way to keep him safe by making him a wolf that is too famous to harm.”

“A Wolf Called Wander”(May 7, 2019)

By: Rosanne Parry

Greenwillow Books; 1st Edition edition

Grades 4 – 6

“Swift, a yearling wolf, is separated from his family after a rival wolf pack attacks and claims his family’s territory as their own. His thousand-mile journey across the Pacific Northwest to find a new home brings danger, hunger, and desperate loneliness. Inspired by the story of OR-7, a real wolf naturalists tracked in the wild, Parry perfectly conveys her character’s curious, alert, and social nature. Swift’s successes and failures throughout his travels shape a relatable bildungsroman theme. His symbiotic relationship with a raven will delight and intrigue readers, just one example of the abundant information about wolves Parry seamlessly incorporates into this page-turning narrative. Generously illustrated, Armiño’s spot and full-page black-and-white drawings capture the landscape’s stark beauty from the fragility of a bumblebee in flight to the ferocity of an animal attack. The novel’s grim yet blunted depiction of life and death in nature, along with an upbeat ending in which Swift gives himself a new name, make it an ideal middle grade read. The novel would also function well as the fictional component in a classroom lesson about wolves, as the gripping story-and extensive back matter-will inspire students to learn more about the real OR-7.”

“Runt”(September 14, 2004)

By: Marion Dane Bauer

Yearling; 3rd Printing edition

Grades 3 – 7

“Deep in the Minnesota forest, where only the strong survive, four regular-sized pups—Leader, Sniffer, Runner, and Thinker—are pushed into the world. Then one last, very small pup is born into the wolf pack. He is called Runt. From the very start, Runt struggles in the harsh wild world of the wolves. He tries learning along with his brothers and sisters, but makes serious mistakes. It’s hard pleasing his father, King, and the other wolves. If only Runt could prove himself to his powerful father and family.”

Middle school to adult reading list

Middle school/Adult reading

“Wolf 8 struggles at first—he is smaller than the other pups, and often bullied—but soon he bonds with an alpha female whose mate was shot. An unusually young alpha male, barely a teenager in human years, Wolf 8 rises to the occasion, hunting skillfully, and even defending his family from the wolf who killed his father. But soon he faces a new opponent: his adopted son, who mates with a violent alpha female. Can Wolf 8 protect his valley without harming his protégé?”

American Wolf: True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West (2018)

By Nate Blakeslee

Publisher: Broadway Books

“Before men ruled the earth, there were wolves. Once abundant in North America, these majestic creatures were hunted to near extinction in the lower 48 states by the 1920s. But in recent decades, conservationists have brought wolves back to the Rockies, igniting a battle over the very soul of the West.

With novelistic detail, Nate Blakeslee tells the gripping story of one of these wolves, O-Six, a charismatic alpha female named for the year of her birth. Uncommonly powerful, with gray fur and faint black ovals around each eye, O-Six is a kind and merciful leader, a fiercely intelligent fighter, and a doting mother. She is beloved by wolf watchers, particularly renowned naturalist Rick McIntyre, and becomes something of a social media star, with followers around the world.

But as she raises her pups and protects her pack, O-Six is challenged on all fronts: by hunters, who compete with wolves for the elk they both prize; by cattle ranchers who are losing livestock and have the ear of politicians; and by other Yellowstone wolves who are vying for control of the park’s stunningly beautiful Lamar Valley.

These forces collide in American Wolf, a riveting multigenerational saga of hardship and triumph that tells a larger story about the ongoing cultural clash in the West—between those fighting for a vanishing way of life and those committed to restoring one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.”

Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone

By Douglas Smith and Gary Ferguson

Publisher: Lyons Press

“Written by an award-winning writer and the leader of the Yellowstone Wolf Project, this definitive book recounts the years since the wolves’ return to Yellowstone.”

Wild Wolves We Have Known

Edited by Richard P. Thiel, Allison C Thiel and Marianne Strozewski

Publisher: International Wolf Center

“Interesting stores of wolf encounters in the wild by respected researchers from around the world. Produced by the non-profit organization, International Wolf Center, located in Ely, Minnesota. All proceeds of this book support the mission of the International Wolf Center.”

Wolf Land (2016)

By Carter Niemeyer

Publisher: Bottlefly Press

“Carter Niemeyer has followed wolves – and captured many – since he helped reintroduce them in the Northern Rockies in the mid-1990s. In his second memoir, Wolf Land, he takes us across the rugged West as he tracks wolves, shares in their lives, and seeks middle ground for these iconic animals, both on the land and in our hearts.”

Wolfer: A Memoir (2012)

By Carter Niemeyer

Publisher: Bottlefly Press

“His plan was to stay in Iowa, maybe get a job counting ducks, or do a little farming. But events conspired to fling Carter Niemeyer westward and straight into the jaws of wolves. From his early years wrangling ornery federal trappers, eagles and grizzlies, to winning a skinning contest that paved the way for wolf reintroduction in the Northern Rockies, Carter Niemeyer reveals the wild and bumpy ride that turned a trapper – a killer – into a champion of wolves.”

Wolves on the Hunt: The Behavior of Wolves Hunting Prey (2015)

By L. David Mech, Douglas W Smith and Daniel R MacNulty

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

The interactions between apex predators and their prey are some of the most awesome and meaningful in nature—displays of strength, endurance, and a deep coevolutionary history. And there is perhaps no apex predator more impressive and important in its hunting—or more infamous, more misjudged—than the wolf. Because of wolves’ habitat, speed, and general success at evading humans, researchers have faced great obstacles in studying their natural hunting behaviors. The first book to focus explicitly on wolf hunting of wild prey, Wolves on the Hunt seeks to fill these gaps in our knowledge and understanding.

Combining behavioral data, thousands of hours of original field observations, research in the literature, a wealth of illustrations, and—in the e-book edition and online—video segments from cinematographer Robert K. Landis, the authors create a compelling and complex picture of these hunters. The wolf is indeed an adept killer, able to take down prey much larger than itself. While adapted to hunt primarily hoofed animals, a wolf—or especially a pack of wolves—can kill individuals of just about any species. But even as wolves help drive the underlying rhythms of the ecosystems they inhabit, their evolutionary prowess comes at a cost: wolves spend one-third of their time hunting—the most time consuming of all wolf activities—and success at the hunt only comes through traveling long distances, persisting in the face of regular failure, detecting and taking advantage of deficiencies in the physical condition of individual prey, and through ceaseless trial and error, all while risking injury or death.

By describing and analyzing the behaviors wolves use to hunt and kill various wild prey—including deer, moose, caribou, elk, Dall sheep, mountain goats, bison, musk oxen, arctic hares, beavers, and others—Wolves on the Hunt provides a revelatory portrait of one of nature’s greatest hunters.

Wolves: Behavior, Ecology and Conservation (2007)

Edited by L. David Mech and Luigi Boitani

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Wolves are some of the world’s most charismatic and controversial animals, capturing the imaginations of their friends and foes alike. Highly intelligent and adaptable, they hunt and play together in close-knit packs, sometimes roaming over hundreds of square miles in search of food. Once teetering on the brink of extinction across much of the United States and Europe, wolves have made a tremendous comeback in recent years, thanks to legal protection, changing human attitudes, and efforts to reintroduce them to suitable habitats in North America.

As wolf populations have rebounded, scientific studies of them have also flourished. But there hasn’t been a systematic, comprehensive overview of wolf biology since 1970. In Wolves, many of the world’s leading wolf experts provide state-of-the-art coverage of just about everything you could want to know about these fascinating creatures. Individual chapters cover wolf social ecology, behavior, communication, feeding habits and hunting techniques, population dynamics, physiology and pathology, molecular genetics, evolution and taxonomy, interactions with nonhuman animals such as bears and coyotes, reintroduction, interactions with humans, and conservation and recovery efforts. The book discusses both gray and red wolves in detail and includes information about wolves around the world, from the United States and Canada to Italy, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Israel, India, and Mongolia. Wolves is also extensively illustrated with black and white photos, line drawings, maps, and fifty color plates.

Unrivaled in scope and comprehensiveness, Wolves will become the definitive resource on these extraordinary animals for scientists and amateurs alike.